Culture shock can be a real pain in the ass. But it’s something you just have to deal with if you want to spend more than a two-weeks vacation worth of time in a foreign country. Culture shock is more than just a vague feeling of “wow I can’t believe people do that or eat […]
What is Culture Shock? My Personal Experience in China Read Post »
I just got my first dose of China’s COVID-19 vaccine. It’s only been a few hours, but I feel fine so far. Except for maybe a little bit a sensation like somebody punched me in the arm. But that’s normal. Right?
I Just Got My COVID-19 Vaccine in China Read Post »
The Qingming festival is also known in English as Tomb Sweeping Day. It happens every year on the 15th day after the spring equinox, usually on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th of April. It’s dedicated to honoring the dead and is one of the least commercialized festivals in modern China. While it may not
What is the Qingming (a.k.a. Tomb Sweeping) Festival? Read Post »
There is a lot of bad advice out there about learning Chinese. Most of it comes from professional bloggers and influencers who seem to be dedicated to convincing the rest of us we’re losers for not working five hours a week, living in Bali, and knowing twenty languages. It’s okay. You’re not a loser, you’ve
Bad Advice: Things You Shouldn’t Do When Learning Chinese Read Post »
Last fall, we visited the emergency room of a Chinese public hospital when my life-partner and bride-to-be injured her knee. It was interesting, and the doctors gave us the impression that it would just heal on its own. Of course, it didn’t. She ended up having surgery at the end of February this year. Things
Chinese Public Hospitals Are a Kafkaesque Nightmare Read Post »
Chinese movies have existed pretty much since the beginning of cinema, starting with rickety black and white footage of downtown Shanghai. The country has a rich artistic heritage that goes back a century. But, all anyone ever wants to talk about is Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Or Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Jackie Chan and
Five Chinese Movies That Aren’t Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Read Post »
Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand might be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Imagine waking up in a floating bungalow and looking out over a mist-covered jungle lake. The otherworldly howls of the gibbons echo off rugged limestone cliffs that tower over the water. You breathe in a primordial
Khao Sok National Park Might be Thailand’s Best Park Read Post »
There isn’t much to Jinshan Fishing Village, or Jinshanzui, or 金山嘴渔村. However, it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon wandering around old narrow streets, soaking up some ancient Chinese architecture, and maybe buying some dried fish. Unfortunately, despite being a seaside fishing village, it isn’t the best place to see the ocean.
Jinshan Fishing Village: The Sea-Side Town with No Sea-Side Read Post »
The first question you may be asking yourself about the Shanghai Museum of Glass is why? Why would somebody go through all the trouble to make an entire museum devoted to a material we use so that we can look out our windows without having to breathe fresh air? It’s a fair question and one
The Shanghai Museum of Glass: Not a Good Place for Children Read Post »
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is undoubtedly the biggest of all the big holidays in China. It’s like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s all rolled into one gigantic seven-day festival of red lanterns and dumplings. In Shanghai, they celebrate the Chinese New Year by traveling out of the city. This is often the
How Shanghai is Celebrating the Chinese New Year Read Post »
